2009 Youth Book Awards

The American Library Association announced their 2009 book awards this morning.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is the winner of the Newbery award, which honors the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.



Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta is the winner of the Printz award, which honors excellence in literature written for young adults. (This book is currently on order.)



A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce is the winner of the Morris award, which honors a book written for young adults by a first-time, previously unpublished author.



Laurie Halse Anderson is the winner of the Margaret A Edwards Award, which honors an author and a specific work for lifetime contribution in writing books of enduring popularity with teenagers. She is the author of Catalyst, Fever 1793, Speak, and more.


What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell won the 2008 National Book Award for young adults. The National Book Awards honor the best in American literature.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

The Tale of Despereaux, being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread is the story of an unlikely hero and the meaning of courage, love, and hope. Reader, you will soon meet Despereaux Tilling the smallest mouse you’ve ever seen. He was born with his eyes wide open and the most enormous ears ever bestowed upon a mouse. Despereaux doesn’t scurry about and rather than eat bits of paper, he enjoys reading the beautiful stories written upon them. He has fallen in love with Princess Pea. “Reader, you must know that an interesting fate (sometimes involving rats, sometimes not) awaits almost everyone, mouse or man, who does not conform.” The Mouse Council has decided to sentence Despereaux to a horrible fate in the dungeon, where the rats are awaiting a meal. But dear Reader, if you have been paying attention, the story must not end here for what about the soup and the spool of thread? Prepare yourself for the award winning Tale of Despereaux.

Marley: a dog like no other by John Grogan

Look at that face! Sure he’s man’s best friend but he might possibly be the worst-behaved dog ever. This version of the best seller Marley and Me is written for younger children and tweens. It includes most if not all of the funny doggy antics that Grogan shared in the original story.

If you've ever loved an animal, you'll love this book. It's packed full of episodes that will have you laughing and crying.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

It’s a New Year and Greg isn’t making any resolutions. Why fix yourself when you are just about perfect!?! But he has resolved to help others in their quest for self-improvement. In other less than perfect news, the bus stop has been rezoned so now Greg and Rowley must walk to school. A snack thief is on the loose in the Heffley house and without that extra sugary boost in his lunch (plus the extra exercise from walking to school), Greg keeps falling asleep in class. The new TV lineup as well as an after school nap routine (what teenager isn’t tired after working that hard all day?) leaves no time for homework. Greg has his eye on Holly Hills, but hasn’t figured out a way to get her attention… He’s pretty sure his diminishing wardrobe isn’t helping. (Thanks to Uncle Charlie’s gift of a laundry hoop, Greg is now responsible for washing his own clothing—how many times can you wear something without being referred to the nurse for a lecture on hygiene?) The Last Straw of this less than perfect start to the year would have to be impressing Dad into not making him attend to Spag Union (AKA Military Academy). How far will Greg be willing to go (soccer, Boy Scouts) in order to save a perfect summer vacation?

Those fans of the series will be excited to know that a 4^th and 5^th book are planned.

Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by CJ Box

Jack & Melissa are parents of a nine month old daughter they adopted after being unable to become pregnant on their own. Out of the blue they receive the phone call from the adoption agency; a call that adoptive parents have nightmares about. The birth father didn't sign the relinquishment papers and wants the baby back. To make matters worse, his father is a powerful US District Court judge in Denver. Judge Moreland wants his son to take responsibility for his actions and while Garrett is still in school, he and his wife will raise baby Angelina. Jack and Melissa are devastated and have declined the Judge's offer of helping them find another baby to adopt. The Judge "kindly" gives them Three Weeks to Say Goodbye to their daughter; he has looked into case law and legally they can do nothing to stop him. So in those three weeks, Jack, Melissa, and their close friends are determined to find out what the real story behind Garrett and Judge John Moreland and why these men are determined take a perfectly happy and healthy baby away from her family. It won't be easy doing battle with a top judge and a seemly squeaky kid with ties to the Mexican Mafia. But what else do they have to lose?

The People Magazine review described the book as “Juno with a body count.” This fast paced, easy to read mystery is a stand alone novel from the author of the Joe Pickett mystery series.

Hannibal Rising

If you are a fan of foul play, gruesome deaths, cannibals, and the horrors of World War II, this book should be a high priority on your reading list! Even though it is the most Recent Hannibal(the Cannibal)Lecter book, it is not in the present time of the deviously and deliciously insane doctor that we have been accustomed to. This book delves deep into Hannibal's past, starting at Castle Lecter in Europe, home of Hannibal's father, the duke. After the airbombing begins to become dangerously close to his home, Hannibal and his small sister, Mischa, are taken to the family hunting lodge deep within the woods. This is also where things go horribly, disgustingly wrong. Hannibal is later found wandering about with a heavy chain around his neck, utterly mute to the men that decide to show kindness to him, and suffering from slight memory loss of what had happened at the lodge. He is then taken to live with his father's brother and his beautiful Japanese wife, Lady Murasaki. As he grows with time, so do his deadly ideals. After regaining his memories piece by piece, Hannibal sets out to find the men responsible for the gory and mind warping scenes that plague his thoughts. Using his cunning intellect and smarts, he tracks them down one by one to exact his revenge. And in Hannibal Lecter's case, revenge tastes sweet quite literally.

5Q- Hard to imagine a better book.

3P- Some teen appeal. (Not for the squeamish or pure of mind!)

Let It Snow Three Holiday Romances By: John Green, Laureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle

The book of January is none other than Let It Snow. I took the time to pick up this book during Christmas vacation, and I was not let down. Not only is Let it snow both for guys and girls, it has personal stories for those who enjoy a heart warming story around Christmas. The Book Let It Snow begins with the story the Jubilee Express. Jubilee the character in the Jubilee Express finds herself away from home on Christmas stuck with a misfortune and crazy-out of their mind parents. With a little love, as well as holiday spirit things may not be as unfortunate as they seem for Jubilee. Travel on a train, in a suburb, and in a waffle house on the first adventure for the town of Gracetown.

As this short story ended another story began. A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle is the second story of the novel, and is written by John Green. A group of friends staying home for the holidays watching James Bond discovers their latest adventure of love and curiosity awaits them in town. Travel with the group of friends to discover that a storm on Christmas Eve doesn't have the ability to stop the a heart warming desire. The last story of the novel is The Patron Saint of Pigs by Laren Myracle. In the same town of Gracetown another surprise awaits. Addie, who seems to be having issues with relationships devotes all her Christmas spirit as well as humbleness towards her friends. In trying to to be a good friend, and good ex-girlfriend she discovers being herself, and trying her hardest is all she can really do. As she undergoes a transformation of herself during Christmas her values become clear, as the unexpected happens.

The most interesting thing I found out about this book would be that the characters are totally different, the stories are different, yet in the end all the authors have the way of bringing these characters and stories together :)

I suggest this book to anyone and everyone in the mood for Christmas, although it seems to be a long ways away now in January.

I would rate this novel a 3P for some teen appeal, as well as a 4Q that is better than most :]

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

Before the Da Vinci Code there was Angels and Demons. (Soon also, to be a major motion picture.) The first of Dan Brown's novels to feature the famous synbologist Robert Langdon, I personally find this novel to be much more fast paced and enjoyable than the D Vinci Code. Not to say that the Da Vinci Code wasn't an excellent read. After being called to Switzerland to one of its most famous research sites, Robert Langdon is informed that one of the most powerful bombs known to man is hidden with in the Vatican walls. This is due to an ancient plot of revenge from the legendary Illuminati. In a race against time Robert Langdon teams up in Rome with the beatuifal scientist Vittoria Vetra in order to locate and diffuse the world's most fatal weapon. First however they must get past the cryptic puzzles, abandonned cathedrals, and long lost secrets from the ancient past. In this adventure you are surely not going to be able to stand putting this book down. It is fast paced, puzzling, and incredibly intelligent. It will leave you breathless.

P: 5 Q: 5

Kaylee's Review: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

In the Instan bulcalis, a single murder is committed in a sleeping compartment of a now infamous orient express. conveniently, detective Poiroit is aboard the same train, and is returning from Syria, to his hometown, Stamboat. The detective is prevailed upon by M. Bouc, a railway director, to investigate.
The unfortunate victim was named Ratchett, a rather successful business man in the States. The passengers include a princess, a missionary, a Russian, a maid, and a few other distant-like couples and singles who are not what they portray themselves to be.
As Poiroit is digging further and further into the event, a startling fact is revealed, and the Detective puts forward a final solution which is most audacious.
Rating: 4Q Better than most 4P

Forever Princess (Princess Diaries X) by Meg Cabot

With less than two weeks left until Prom, high school graduation, and the election of the first Prime Minister of Genovia, Prince Phillipe (Dad) vs. cousin René, Mia’s life couldn’t be any crazier. Add to the mix the fact that she was accepted at every college (even Ivy League) that she applied to (although she’s lied about it to her friends) and must decide where she’ll spend the next four years; her 18^th birthday party—a star studded event (the Clintons, Obamas, and Brangelina!) planned by none other than the over-the-top Grandmère (who has learned to text from her Blackberry!); the fact that her senior project (supposedly the history of Genovian olive oil pressing, circa 1254-1650 but is really a 400 page historical romance novel titled Ransom My Heart) has been rejected by every publisher imaginable; and we find Mia finally returning to her trusty journals and upgrading to texting friends rather than just writing notes and IMs. Oh yeah! There is also the fact that a certain someone, who invented the CardioArm, is now a millionaire and is back in Manhattan. If the return of Michael wasn’t enough, J.P. (who Mia claims to be in love with) hasn’t yet asked her to prom and Mia isn’t even sure she really wants to go anyway. Will Mia ever quit telling Big Fat Lies and finally be honest with her friends and especially herself about what she really wants? Even though this is the last volume in the Princess Diaries series, Mia will always be our favorite Forever Princess.

FYI—Ransom My Heart has actually been published and is available at NCPL!

Poison Ivy by Amy Goldman Koss

We've all had one of those class project assignments where you learn through the process rather than just reading a textbook and taking a test. Ms. Gold has decided that rather than have her American Government class merely read about the workings of the judicial system, they will actually participate in a mock civil trial. After poking and prodding to find a complaint, Ms. Gold discovers that Ivy has been the "victim" of bullying for years at the hands of three popular girls. These "mean girls" become the defendants in the case while other students are chosen at random to serve a judge, jury, lawyers, etc. Will justice be served and will Ivy finally receive the apology she deserves and be left alone? Or will the intended lesson be lost on a group of teens who aren't prepared for such a major lesson in compassion and fairness?

While the premise of the book was good, it didn't seem like there was any resolution. I enjoyed the different perspectives and the length would appear to a reluctant reader. However, it just ended after the verdict. There was no follow-up as to what the students had learned about the judicial system and/or how Ivy was treated (or continued to be mistreated) afterward. It also would have been nice to hear the perspective of Ms. Gold, especially since the students didn't appear to have much respect for her and it didn't appear that she prepared them for all that was involved in the assignment.